charvak

charvak or carvak or 'lokayata' was a school of Indian philosophy, probably even predating the vedas; it was most scientific in orientation, an example of ancient materialism (animism?). As the name suggests 'lok-ayata' was probably the philosophy of common people. There is reason to believe that lokayata was a philosophy or worldview of a more developed people who were already setteled agriculturists at a time when the aryans/aryas were nomads. Some even speculate that the charvaks were related to ancient Sumerians as there is some thread of common ritual of celebration at funerals; this school was later heavily persecuted and its remnants survive in secret sects like Tantramargis/kapalikas or degenerated buddhist sects like Sahajiyas.
Often misquoted to be preaching nihilism and even Machiavellian ideals e.g. "one should take loan and drink ghee", but the school was actually quite modern and it clearly declared that- there is no god, no soul, no afterlife, prayers and rituals are falsehood! etc
It seems that there must have been a single individual called CHARVAK but the name has also been used for a cult or group of people. Ample references to charvak are found in ancient texts like Upanishads and even Mahabharata, where charvaks have been painted in a negative light.
such original piece of philosophy lost in the sands of time........................